Safety cap for gas tanks



Nov. 28, 1950 c. E. ONEAL, JR

SAFETY CAP FOR GAS TANKS Filed June 29, 1948 VIIIIII'IIII 'A'III'IA w I I llllll R. r m n if 2 MW B ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, i950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a spring cap assembly for airplane and automobile gas tanks, oil caps and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a spring cap assembly for gasoline tanks, oil caps and the like whereby the possibility of the cap becoming loose and lost is eliminated and wherein indication will be given 110* the person applying the cap at the time that the same is being improperly applied and where the cap cannot be closed until both ends of an arm have been released and wherein the cap is .prevented from being closed with only one leg or engaging arm connected to the tank opening.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a spring cap assembly for airplane and automobile gas tanks and the like which has a safety device associated therewith to prevent the cap from being placed on the tank openin improperly which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to operate and efiicient in operation.

For other objects and for a. better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of the cap embodying the features of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 with the cap only partly in place on the tank opening.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the holding arm.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 where the cap is in the lowered position, the spring compressed and the holding arm in looking position.

Referring now to the figures, I represents the inner cap casing over which is extended outer cap casing II, the casings I0 and II defining a cap part. The flanges of the casings are tightly united together so that they become operable as a unit. The inner casing I0 is depressed at the center as indicated at I2 and has fixed to the under face of the depression [2 cap arm l3 having depending side portions l4 and outwardly extending holding portions I adapted to engage beneath the edge of the opening as the cap is turned from a position where the holding arm I3 is shown in full to a dotted line as indicated at l6.

Beneath the arm I3 is a holding arm I! having arcuate end portions I8 with downwardly bent feet I9 and III adapted to rest on the top edge of the opening as the cap structure is applied and adapted to drop into open space 2| in the edge of the opening. The arm cannot be dropped the full extent into the edge opening 2| because of stop 22. Normally the portions I8 of the holding arm H are kept fiush upon the lock engaging portions iii of the cap arm [3 by a spring 23 which also acts between the arms I3 and [4 to keep the holding arm I! closed upon the cap arm in the manner as shown in full lines in Fig. l and in Fig. 4. The portions [5 of the cap arm are kept normally within the space between the feet I!) and 20 by the spring 23 upon the cap structure being free of the opening.

As the cap parts It] and H and the arm I3 is depressed onto the holding arm ll to compress spring 23, the engaging arm portions l5 are lowered as shown in Fig. 5 and made free of the feet l9 andii] and can be rotated to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 at 15.

Fixed to the holding arm [1 is a shaft 25 which extends upwardly through the cap arm l3 and the inner casing part [2 and as shown in Fig. 5 it may extend upwardly through the outer casing part II to serve as an indicator whereby to indicate whether or not the holding arm I! is down upon the cap arm portions l5 as when the arms are positioned for engagement with the opening or elevated as shown in Fig. 5 to a position whereby indication will be given that both of the cap arm portions 15 are in engagement with the under edges of the opening. Where the pin is not used as an indicator, it will have a head 26, as shown in Fig. 2, and this head will be fixed to the depressed portion l2 of the inner casing part H]. In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, the pin 25 has a bottom head 21 which is fixed to the holding arm 11. A retaining element 28 is extended through the pin 25 in Fig. 5 to prevent and limit the downward movement of the pin 25 by the engagement of the retainer element 28 with the depressed portion l2 of the inner part In.

The ends of the spring are coupled respectively with the cap and holding arms as indicated at 3| and 3 The neck of the tank in which is the opening, is indicated at 33.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a spring cap assembly, a cap part, a cap arm secured to the undersurface of said cap part and having laterally extending portions adapted to engage with the neck of a tank, a holding arm adapted to enter slots in the neck of the tank, said holding arm having end portions for receiving therein the laterally extending portions of the cap arm, stop means on said holding arm for preventing the holding arm from passing underneath the neck of the tank, and means for maintainingthe holding arm on the laterally extending portions of said cap arm. v,

2. In a spring dap assembly, a 'cap part, a cap arm secured to the undersurface of said cap part, and having laterally extending portions adapted to engage with the neck of a tank, a holding arm adapted to enter slots in the neqkgi the tank, said holding arm having end portions for receiving therein the laterally extending portions of the cap arm, stop means on said holding arm for preventing the holding arm from passing underneath the neck of the tank, and means for maintaining the holding arm on the laterally extending portions of said cap arm, said last named means comprising a spring extending between the cap part and the holding arm.

CHARLES E. ONEAL, JR.

Number Name Date 2,3753?! Malluk May 8, 1945 2116,63? Minella, Jr Feb. 25, 1947 

